Lakey Pipe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf building at Lakey Pipe over the next couple of weeks, but the early part of the window is a bit of a slow starter. The first few days are small and a little grindy, but the real action kicks off from late next week and just keeps getting better. The water’s sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July are pretty marginal. Saturday morning has a clean 4ft SSW swell with a long 15-second period, but the wind is a cross-off SE breeze at 9 mph, keeping things tidy. The combined energy is 624, which is moderate. It’s surfable but not pumping. By Sunday, the swell drops to 3ft, and the wind picks up to 16 mph, making it a bit of a struggle. Monday the 27th is even smaller, down to 2ft, but Tuesday the 28th sees a slight lift back to 3ft SSW at 16 seconds – still cross-off winds, so clean but small.

The first real standout comes Thursday the 30th of July afternoon. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 1167 – moderate to strong. Winds are light SE at 9 mph, keeping it clean. It’s a solid, surfable swell, but the real fireworks start Friday the 31st of July afternoon. Swell sits at 4ft from the SW with a 17-second period, energy at 1106, and the wind eases to a light SSE breeze at 6 mph. That’s clean, long-period groundswell and prime conditions.

Saturday the 1st of August morning is another standout: 4ft SW swell with a very long 20-second period, combined energy of 1788, and light ESE winds at 6 mph. This is the sort of glassy, long-period pulse that brings proper shape to the reef. Crowds are likely here, so get in early. The swell builds further into Sunday the 2nd of August: 6ft SSW on the morning, jumping to 5ft SW in the afternoon with offshore ESE winds at 9 mph – energy over 2000, so strong, clean, and excellent for experienced surfers.

The following week runs hot. Monday the 3rd of August afternoon sees 6ft SW with 16-second period, light offshore east wind at 6 mph – again excellent. Tuesday the 4th of August holds 5ft SW in the morning, with a long 18-second pulse in the afternoon at 4ft. Wednesday the 5th of August morning peaks at 6ft SW, but be aware that over 5ft, it starts getting too big for beginners. Thursday the 6th of August sits around 5ft with cross-shore wind.

The biggest pulse hits Saturday the 8th of August with 10ft SSW swell – combined energy near 5000 – but that’s strictly for experts only, as anything over 8ft is serious. The following Sunday the 9th of August hangs at 8ft with clean conditions, still for experienced crew.

Best on offer: Friday the 31st of July afternoon and Saturday the 1st of August morning. Clean, long-period SW groundswell, light winds, and strong energy – that’s the pick of the run.

Rusty.

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